Skip to main content

Yemen’s government amasses 80,000 troops for major offensive to retake Hodeidah

1 min Edward Finkelstein

The internationally recognized Yemeni government is preparing for what could be the largest military operation of the country’s decade-long civil war, according to the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center and multiple Arab media outlets.

Hodeidah, Yemen © Mena Today 

Hodeidah, Yemen © Mena Today 

The internationally recognized Yemeni government is preparing for what could be the largest military operation of the country’s decade-long civil war, according to the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center and multiple Arab media outlets.

Backed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) is reportedly mobilizing more than 80,000 troops in a bid to recapture the strategic port city of Hodeidah from the Houthi rebels. 

Located on Yemen’s western coast, Hodeidah serves as a critical hub for both humanitarian aid and military logistics, and its loss would deal a severe blow to the Iran-aligned Houthis.

The planned offensive marks a significant escalation in the conflict, which began in 2014 when Houthi forces seized the capital, Sana’a. Since 2017, the PLC—alongside its allies in the Southern Transitional Council and the Yemeni National Resistance—has been steadily increasing its military capacity and territorial control.

If successful, the recapture of Hodeidah could isolate Houthi forces in western Yemen and set the stage for a broader campaign to retake Sana’a. However, the exact involvement of foreign allies remains unclear. While the United States and Gulf countries have long supported the PLC, their direct participation in the upcoming offensive has not been confirmed.

Still, there are signs of increasing international involvement. Reports suggest that the U.S. Air Force is conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions over Houthi-held areas. 

In addition, a series of recent drone and airstrikes targeting Houthi positions may be part of a “shaping” strategy to weaken defenses ahead of a ground assault.

As preparations intensify, all eyes are on Hodeidah—long a flashpoint in Yemen’s war and now possibly the key to its next major chapter.

Edward Finkelstein

Edward Finkelstein

From Athens, Edward Finkelstein covers current events in Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and Sudan. He has over 15 years of experience reporting on these countries

 

Related

Yemen

Deadliest US strike in Yemen kills 74, Houthis say

U.S. strikes on Yemen's Ras Isa fuel port have killed at least 74 people in the deadliest attack since the U.S. launched its large-scale campaign against the Houthis last month, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.

Iran

Iran's Khamenei sends letter to Putin ahead of talks with US

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei sent his foreign minister to Moscow on Thursday with a letter for President Vladimir Putin to brief the Kremlin about nuclear negotiations with the U.S., which has threatened to bomb the Islamic Republic.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Mena banner 4

To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.

  • Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.